by suzanne selfors

illustrations by dan santat

Little, Brown and Company
New York Boston
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This book is a work of fction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product
of the authors imagination or are used fctitiously. Any resemblance to actual events,
locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Text copyright 2013 by Suzanne Selfors
Illustrations copyright 2013 by Dan Santat
Text in excerpt from The Rain Dragon Rescue copyright 2014 by Suzanne Selfors
Illustrations in excerpt from The Rain Dragon Rescue copyright 2014 by Dan Santat
All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning,
uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of
the publisher is unlawful piracy and theft of the authors intellectual property. If you
would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written
permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at [email protected].
Thank you for your support of the authors rights.
Little, Brown and Company
Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Visit our website at lb-kids.com
Little, Brown and Company is a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
The Little, Brown name and logo are trademarks of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
The publisher is not responsible for websites
(or their content) that are not owned by the publisher.
First Paperback Edition: January 2014
First published in hardcover in September 2013 by Little, Brown and Company
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Selfors, Suzanne.
The lonely lake monster / by Suzanne Selfors ; illustrations by Dan Santat.1st ed.
p. cm.(The imaginary veterinary ; bk. 2)
Summary: Ten-year-olds Pearl and Ben fnd excitement in the small town of
Buttonville as they encounter otherworldly animals, including a lake monster,
during their frst offcial day as apprentices to Dr. Woo, a veterinarian for Imaginary
CreaturesProvided by publisher.
ISBN 978-0-316-22567-0 (hc) / ISBN 978-0-316-22561-8 (pb)
[1. Imaginary creaturesFiction. 2. VeterinariansFiction. 3. ApprenticesFiction.]
I. Santat, Dan, ill. II. Title.
PZ7.S456922Lon 2013
[Fic]dc23
2012040967
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
RRD-C
Printed in the United States of America
also by suzanne selfors:
To Catch a Mermaid
Fortunes Magic Farm
The Smells Like Dog Series
Smells Like Dog
Smells Like Treasure
Smells Like Pirates
The Imaginary Veterinary Series
The Sasquatch Escape
The Lonely Lake Monster
The Rain Dragon Rescue
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For lake monsters everywhere
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contents
chapter 1
:
Pot OGold
chapter 2
:
Lemon Face
chapter 3
:
Bad Berries
chapter 4
:
A Boy Named Ben
chapter 5
:
Worm Doctor
chapter 6
:
The Return of Mr. Tabby
chapter 7
:
Snacks for Humans
chapter 8
:
He Who Hates Humans
chapter 9
:
The Forest Suite
chapter 10
:
Basketball Eyes
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chapter 11
:
Green Face
chapter 12
:
Boy-Napped
chapter 13
:
Cobblestone
chapter 14
:
A Wee Problem
chapter 15
:
The Thing in Aisle Five
chapter 16
:
Two Shiny Gifts
chapter 17
:
Sink or Swim
chapter 18
:
Dr. Woos Special Soup
chapter 19
:
Sasquatch Toes
chapter 20
:
Pearl Tells the Truth
chapter 21
:
Swimming with Worms
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1
pot o gold
p
earl smacked the alarm clock until the loud
beeping stopped.
Is it morning already? she thought.
As she rolled over, something crinkled. She rubbed
sleep crystals from the corners of her eyes, then
rolled the other way. Crinkle, crinkle. What was
that? Reaching under her pillow, she pulled out a
piece of paper.
She still couldnt believe it hadnt been a dream.
What Pearl Petal held in her hand was a certifi-
cate of merit in the art of Sasquatch Catching.
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2
Thats right. Sasquatch Catching. And it was signed
by Dr. Emerald Woo, Veterinarian for Imaginary
Creatures.
This was not the usual kind of thing found under
a ten-year-olds pillowlike a comic book or a blue
jay feather or a secret diary. But last weekend hadnt
been a usual kind of weekend. Last weekend, Pearl
met an escaped sasquatch. A real, living, breathing,
furry, smelly sasquatch. And, being a clever girl,
Pearl captured the sasquatch and returned it to
Dr. Woos hospital for Imaginary creatures. That
was when she earned the certificate of merit. Shed
done such a good job that Dr. Woo had made her
an apprentice at the hospital. Today was going to
be the first day of the apprenticeship. Maybe Pearl
would meet a centaur or a fairy. Perhaps shed meet a
unicorn!
Susan Petal, Pearls mother, walked into the room,
a basket of folded laundry balanced against her hip.
Wake up, sleepyhead.
Pearl quickly tucked the paper under the blan-
ket. As Mrs. Petal opened a dresser drawer, Pearls
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4
mind raced. Where could she hide her certificate?
Beneath the mattress was too obvious. Where, where,
where?
What time are you supposed to be at Dr. Woos?
Eight oclock, Pearl said. Shed set the alarm
for 7 AM to be certain shed have plenty of time to get
ready. She didnt want to be late for her first day.
Are you sure you want to do this? Mrs. Petal
dropped three pairs of rolled socks into the top
drawer. Your father and I still expect you to get your
chores done.
Pearl stiffened. Yes, Im sure. Im totally sure.
I really, really, really want to be an apprentice.
She blew a lock of blond hair from her face.
I dont understand why youre so excited about
working at a worm hospital, Mrs. Petal said with a
shake of her head.
Because its not really a worm hospital, Pearl
thought. But she couldnt say that. The sign on the
hospitals gate read DR. WOOS WORM HOSPITAL, but that
was a big fat lie. No one was supposed to know that
Dr. Woo worked with Imaginary creatures. Pearl
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5
had found out only because of the sasquatch incident,
and afterward, shed signed a contract of secrecy.
Worms are cool, Pearl said.
Cool? Mrs. Petal opened another drawer and
looked tenderly at her daughter. Well, I guess
working in a worm hospital is something to do. I
know you get bored in the store all day. Your father
thinks this apprenticeship might keep you out
of trouble. Her gaze darted to the newspaper article
that was framed and mounted on Pearls wall. FIRE
DEPARTMENT RESCUES GIRL STUCK IN TREEAGAIN!
Pearl frowned. She didnt get into trouble on pur-
pose, and she certainly didnt keep a troublemaking
list. But Buttonville was a very boring town. Many
of the shops had closed down, along with the bowling
alley and the toy store. Most of the young families
had moved away. There was almost nothing to do, so
Pearl had to be clever. It wasnt her fault that other
people didnt like some of her clever ideas.
I was trying to get a woodpeckers nest, she
reminded her mother. I didnt need the fire depart-
ment. I know how to climb out of a tree.
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Well, its too bad Dr. Woo runs a worm hos-
pital and not a bird hospital. You could show the
doctor your lovely nest collection. Mrs. Petal tucked
T-shirts into the drawer, then closed it. Dont for-
get to eat your breakfast before you leave. Laundry
basket in hand, she left the bedroom.
As her mothers footsteps faded, Pearl threw her
blanket aside and scrambled out of bed. Her cor-
ner shelf was cluttered with old board games. She
opened the lid to a game called Pot OGold. The
golden pot was filled with plastic playing pieces
leprechauns, gold coins, and rainbows. What a per-
fect hiding place. No one in her family had played
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7
Pot OGold in years. She stuck the certificate of
merit into the golden pot and set the lid back on
top. Then she ran to the bathroom.
Five minutes to shower, five minutes to dress, five
minutes to eat breakfast. That would leave plenty
of time to walk to Dr. Woos. Soon shed begin her
apprenticeship. Her scalp tingled with excitement.
What wondrous creature would she meet today?
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2
lemon face
p
earl had no idea what an apprentice should
wear, so she selected her usual clothesa
pair of shiny basketball shorts that hung
below her knees, a plain cotton T-shirt, and a pair
of sneakers. The shorts were navy, the shirt was
white, and the sneakers had once been white but,
after five months of wear, were now the color of mud
and starting to fall apart. She pulled her long blond
hair into a ponytail because she liked the way it
felt when it swayed back and forth. Besides, if her
hair was hanging in her face, she might miss seeing
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9
something at Dr. Woos. And that would be a shame.
Her breakfast plate sat on the table. The scram-
bled eggs, toast, and ham were still warm. Using
all three ingredients, Pearl created a breakfast
sandwich, something she liked to do whenever pos-
sible. Eating a sandwich for lunch was normal, but
Pearl enjoyed them for breakfast and dinner, too.
Spaghetti sandwiches were delicious and much eas-
ier to eat than trying to spin the long noodles onto a
fork. Meatballs made great sandwiches, as did tuna
noodle casserole, scalloped potatoes, and her all-
time favorite, french fries and ketchup.
As she chewed, her parents muffled voices drifted
up the stairs. The Petals lived above the Dollar Store,
which they owned and operated. It was one of the few
shops still open in the little town of Buttonville. In
the old days, most everyone in Buttonville had
worked at the button factory, creating handmade
buttons that were sold all over the world. But no
one worked there anymore. Cheap, plastic buttons
had become more popular than the exotic kind once
produced at the Buttonville factorybuttons made
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10
from materials like cedar, porcelain, and oyster
shell. For the last five years, the factory had been
vacant. The lawn had grown into a weed-infested
field, the windows had darkened with dirt, and the
concrete walls had become drizzled in pigeon drop-
pings.
But Dr. Woo had recently taken over the old build-
ing. She lived there now, along with creatures Pearl
used to think could be found only in storybooks
not at the edge of her hometown!
She finished the breakfast sandwich, drank a
glass of milk, then hurried downstairs to the Dollar
Store.
Pearls parents were busy unpacking boxes that
had recently been delivered. They both wore green
aprons embroidered with the slogan YOU GET MORE
AT THE DOLLAR STORE. Pearls apron hung on a hook
near the cash register. She wouldnt need it today.
Pearls father, Peter Petal, pulled a pair of yellow
flip-flops from a box. Look. Just in time for the
nice weather. Then he held up a blue pair. These
are your size.
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11
Great, Pearl said. She kicked off her sneakers
and slid her feet into the rubber shoes. They fit per-
fectly. And they matched her blue shorts.
The mirrors came in, Mrs. Petal said as she
peeled open a different box. Inside lay dozens of
plastic mirrors, some big enough to hang on a wall,
some small enough to tuck into a purse. This was
the best part of owning the Dollar Store. Boxes
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12
arrived a few times a week, filled with all sorts of
thingstubes of toothpaste, striped socks, glitter
pens, sometimes even chocolate. Pearl could keep
whatever she wanted. Why dont you give this one
to Lemon Face, Mrs. Petal said as she held out a
tiny pink mirror.
In her rush to get to Dr. Woos, Pearl had almost
forgotten to feed the bird. She grabbed the pink
mirror and opened the cage. Hi, Lemon Face.
The yellow parakeet was busy looking into a silver
mirror that Pearl had given him a few months ago.
She clipped the pink mirror to the cage, then filled
the seed and water trays. Lemon
Face scuttled to the end of his
perch and began to twitter at
his reflection in the new mirror.
He seems happy, Pearl said as
the parakeet bobbed his head and
sang a little song.
He thinks hes made a new
friend. Mr. Petal opened another box, this
one filled with greeting cards. Thats why
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13
he stands there all day and talks to his reflection.
Pearl shrugged. It made sense, especially since
Lemon Faces brain was about the size of half a
chickpea. Im glad you like your new friend, she
told him. Then she closed the cage and glanced up
at the clock. 7:30. Oh, I gotta go. See ya.
Hold on, young lady. Mrs. Petal removed her
Dollar Store apron and grabbed her purse. Im
going with you.
Huh? Pearl whipped around. Why?
I need to meet Dr. Woo before I give permission
for you to work as her apprentice.
Pearl nervously tapped her toes against the flip-
flops. You dont need to meet her. Shes real nice. I
promise.
Your mother needs to meet her, Mr. Petal said
as he began to set the greeting cards into a rack.
We cant let you spend the day with someone we
havent met.
Pearl frowned. But The hospital was a secret.
Parents werent allowed inside. No one was allowed
inside. Dr. Woo wouldnt like this. But
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14
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15
What are you waiting for? Mrs. Petal asked as
she held open the Dollar Stores front door. She smiled
her gap-toothed smile, which perfectly matched
Pearls gap-toothed smile. You dont want to be late
on your first day, do you?
Pearl shook her head. How would she explain
this to Dr. Woo? How would she keep her mother
from trying to get inside the hospital?
Was her apprenticeship over before it had even
begun?
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3
bad berries
a
s Pearl and her mother walked down Main
Street, Pearls flip-flops smacked against
the sidewalk, the rhythm echoing off the brick
buildings. Sunshine spar-
kled in the morning sky.
A gray squirrel scrambled
up a lamppost. A pair
of pigeons flew out of
the way. Pearl, slow
down, her mother
called after her.
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17
I dont want to be late, she answered, her pony-
tail swinging with each eager step.
And I dont want to twist my ankle. Mrs. Petal
waved at Mr. Bundle, an old man who was sitting
on a bench outside the Buttonville Barbershop. He
scowled and didnt wave back, most likely because
he hadnt forgiven Pearl for riding her bike over his
foot earlier that year. Shed been trying to follow a
butterfly and hadnt noticed the outstretched limb.
Hed limped for two whole months.
Pearl passed right by Ms. Nod, who was unlock-
ing the door to the Buttonville Bookstore. Hello,
Mrs. Petal greeted as she approached.
Ms. Nod peered over the rims of her red glasses.
I have not changed my mind, she said, blocking
the doorway with her outstretched arms. Pearl is
still banned.
Pearl hadnt meant to get banned from the book-
store. But there was no sign in the store that read
DONT CLIMB THE BOOKSHELVES. How was she sup-
posed to know that if one bookshelf tipped, the rest
would fall like dominos?
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18
Well, I hope youll change your mind, Mrs. Petal
told Ms. Nod. Pearl certainly loves your bookstore.
As she continued down the street, Mrs. Petal
greeted everyone she passed. But Pearl didnt
bother to say hello to anyone. She was in a hurry.
And besides, some days it felt as if the entire town
was mad at her for something or other. Shes a
troublemaker, people would whisper behind her
back. Pearl thought it wasnt fair to call someone
a troublemaker when that someone didnt get into
trouble on purpose.
But Dr. Woo wasnt mad at Pearl and didnt think
Pearl was a troublemaker. And that was all the more
reason why Pearl wanted to arrive on time.
With her mother close behind, Pearl charged
around the corner and headed up Fir Street. A car
driving toward them suddenly turned into a park-
ing spot, its tires screeching. The drivers window
opened, and a woman stuck out her head. Yoo-hoo!
Yoo-hoo!
Pearl knew that voice. The sound was worse
than fingernails on a chalkboard, worse than a cat
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19
upchucking a hair ball, worse than a dentists drill.
It was a voice that left scratch marks in the air.
It belonged to Mrs. Martha Mulberry, Buttonvilles
busiest busybody. She squeezed through the car
window until she was half hanging out, her red
hair dangling in long, frizzy ropes. Where are you
two going this morning?
Nowhere, Pearl said, not slowing down. It was
best not to talk to Mrs. Mulberry. That woman
could smell a secret ten miles away. And once she
uncovered a secret, she never kept it. In fact, Mrs.
Mulberry gave secrets away as if they were pieces of
candy on Halloween.
Nowhere? Mrs. Mulberry narrowed her eyes.
Clearly you are going somewhere.
Were going to meet Dr. Woo, Mrs. Petal said.
Pearl skidded to a stop. Drat! Her mother had
spilled the beans.
Dr. Woo? Mrs. Mulberry squeezed back into
the car, threw open the door, then scrambled out.
Dressed in red overalls, she looked like a huge rad-
ish. She hurried up to Mrs. Petal and stood facing
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20
her, hands perched on hips. Why are you going to
meet Dr. Woo?
Before Mrs. Petal could answer, Pearl pushed
between the two women. No reason, she said.
Just a friendly visit. She grabbed her mothers
arm and tried to pull her down the sidewalk. But
Mrs. Mulberry stood in the way.
If you are going to meet Dr. Woo, then I must go
with you, Mrs. Mulberry said.
No way, Pearl blurted. You cant go with us.
Dont be rude, Mrs. Petal whispered to her
daughter.
Cant go with you? Thats absurd, Mrs. Mulberry
said. Ive been trying to meet Dr. Woo ever since I
learned that shed moved into the old button fac-
tory. As president of the Welcome Wagon, it is my
job to welcome her to town. She pointed to the
words WELCOME WAGON, which were embroidered on
the front of her red baseball cap. I tried to get
in on Saturday, and then again on Sunday, but
the gate was locked. I yelled her name, but no one
answered. Then I heard a strange noise coming
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21
from the old factory. It sounded like a growl.
It probably was a growl, Pearl thought. A sas-
quatch growl. But how could she keep Mrs. Mulberry
from suspecting such a thing?
Dogs growl, Pearl pointed out. Maybe some-
ones dog was on the loose. Or maybe it wasnt a
growl after all. Maybe it was a branch swaying in
the wind.
Growl or no growl, Im going with you, Mrs.
Mulberry insisted.
Mrs. Mulberry would ruin everything. Dr. Woo
was trying to keep her hospital for Imaginary
creatures a secret. What if Mrs. Mulberry pushed
her way in? She was a very pushy person. And what
if she caught a glimpse of an Imaginary creature?
You cant go with us, because we have an appoint-
ment and you dont, Pearl said, jutting out her
chin.
An appointment? Mrs. Mulberry leaned close
to Pearl. Her breath smelled like coffee. Why do
you have an appointment with Dr. Woo?
Before Pearl could come up with a fake reason,
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22
Mrs. Petal smiled proudly and said, Dr. Woo has
asked Pearl to be her apprentice.
Mrs. Mulberry snorted. Why would Dr. Woo
want Pearl to be her apprentice? Doesnt she know
that Pearl is adifficult child?
Mrs. Petals smile faded. She wrapped her arm
around her daughters shoulders and glared at Mrs.
Mulberry. Shes not a difficult child. Shes a won-
derful child.
Wonderful? Mrs. Mulberry snorted again.
Wonderful children do not ring the Town Hall bell
at the crack of dawn.
I wanted to see if the dogs would start howling,
Pearl explained.
Wonderful children do not leave puddles of ice
cream on the sidewalk, Mrs. Mulberry said.
I was trying to see which flavor melted fastest,
Pearl pointed out.
Wonderful children do not cut the roses off other
peoples rosebushes.
I said I was sorry, Pearl told her, having no
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24
exceptional explanation for that particular behavior.
Shed simply wanted some flowers for her mother.
We gave you a new rosebush.
A Dollar Store rosebush can never replace a
rosebush from a gardening catalog, Mrs. Mulberry
said with a roll of her eyes.
Mrs. Petals cheeks turned red. You have a right
to your opinion, Martha, but your opinion is wrong.
Dr. Woo thinks Pearl is wonderful, and so do I.
Now, please move out of the way. We do not want to
be late.
But Mrs. Mulberry didnt budge. And when
Mrs. Petal tried to step around her, she blocked the
way again. If Pearl gets to be an apprentice, then
my daughter should get to be an apprentice, too.
Victoria!
The backseat window of Mrs. Mulberrys car
rolled down, and Victoria Mulberry peered out.
What? she asked, pushing her thick glasses up
her nose.
Pearl groaned. Victoria Mulberry was her least
favorite person in the world. Shed spent most of her
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25
life tattling on Pearl. And shed never invited Pearl
to one of her birthday parties.
Victoria, sweetie? Mrs. Mulberry called. Would
you like to be an apprentice for Dr. Woo?
No.
But Pearl is going to be an apprentice for
Dr. Woo.
I dont care. Sunlight glinted off Victorias blue
braces.
Mrs. Mulberry stomped over to the car. Listen
to me, Victoria Bernice Mulberry. I want to know
why Dr. Woo keeps that gate locked and why no one
has seen her. And I want to know what really made
that growling sound. I think shes hiding something,
and I dont like it when people try to hide things
from me. If you work as her apprentice, then you
can help me find out whats going on.
I dont want to.
Well, I am your mother and I want you to. Mrs.
Mulberry scrambled back into the drivers seat.
Well go home, and you can change into that pretty
pink dress, the one you wore when you accepted
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26
the Buttonville Welcome Wagon student-of-the-year
award. And then we will demand that Dr. Woo meet
you and give you an apprenticeship.
Welcome Wagon student of the year? Pearl snorted.
More like Welcome Wagon pest of the year.
As the car drove away, Victoria glared at Pearl
as if the whole thing was Pearls fault.
That is a horrid woman, Mrs. Petal said. But
you are a wonderful girl. And she kissed Pearls
cheek.
Come on, Pearl urged as she pointed at her
plastic Dollar Store watch. Its almost eight oclock.
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